“Running without competition is just strange.”

THE US WOMEN’S 4x100m relay team won their solo race against the clock to book their place in the Olympic final.

The American quartet of Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner and Morolake Akinosun clocked 41.77 to eliminate China from a Friday night final.

“Before we came out our coach said it was just like a practice with the whole world watching,” a relieved Gardner said after the one-off. “We just had to go out there and trust each other.”

“It was different, it was really weird,” Felix added. “Running without competition is just strange.

Source: Martin Meissner

“I think when we walked out and people were cheering for us, it encouraged us. We’re just grateful.”

It completed a surreal day for the reigning Olympic champions, who had earlier been left facing disqualification after a dropped baton exchange between Felix and Gardner in the morning heats.

The American women were thrown a lifeline however when replays showed that Felix had been knocked off-balance by Brazilian runner Kauiza Venancio as she prepared to hand off to Gardner.

The US team filed a protest and race officials duly disqualified Brazil — but ruled that the Americans must run again, in a highly unusual solo flying lap — to beat China’s eighth fastest qualifying time of 42.70sec.

The decision angered Chinese officials but their protest was later dismissed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Felix meanwhile said she was still digesting a crazy day on the track.

“I was stunned and shocked when it happened. I’ve never been involved in anything like that,” Felix said, adding she had no qualms about the decision which ultimately led to China’s relay squad being knocked out of the final.

“I think the process was fair,” Felix said. “I was impressed with the plan they came up with. It was just kind of an unfortunate situation. I wouldn’t want to bump anyone out of a slot, but at the same time we were impeded. I think it’s not ideal.”

TheJournal.ie is a full participating member of the Press Council of Ireland and supports
the Office of the Press Ombudsman. This scheme in addition to defending the freedom of the
press, offers readers a quick, fair and free method of dealing with complaints that they may
have in relation to articles that appear on our pages. To contact the Office of the
Press Ombudsman Lo-Call 1890 208 080 or go to
www.pressombudsman.ie
or www.presscouncil.ie

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.